Cotton-picker.



R. S. WHEELER. l

COTTON PICKER.

APPLIUATIONAFILED MAY zo, 199s.

Patented May 25, 1909.

ROBERT S. WHEELER, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

rspeeincatien of Letteriatent.

Patented May 25, :1909.

fnplicatiemledphay 20, 1908. --Serialafgaaii To alljwhom 'it may concern:

'Be itknow'n that I, ROBERT S. WHEELER, a citizen -of the United States, residing .at Norristown, Pennsylvania lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Tickers, of which the `following is a specification.

My invention relates to cotton picking inachines,-and my object is-to provide a machine in which the picker device will be drivenby power but under the complete control of the operator, it being possible-to have a plurality individual picker devices to be carried in the hands of a number of attendants and all driven fromthe same machine and each under individual control.

In carrying out my invention I connect the picker devices with the main driving -machine through flexible shaftin and these `picker devices are also combine with ipe or conduit connectionsthrough which t e cotton -willlbe drawn by suction from the picker devices to a -central point for collection or storage.

M invention consists in the features and com ination and arrangement of arts hereinafter described and particular y pointed out in the claims.

yIn the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a part sectional and partside elevation of the picker device; Fig. -2 isa sectional view of a detail; Fig. 3 is a p an view of a detail; and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 with parts in elevation.

In these drawings 1 indicates a belt assing around pulleys 2, 3, the pulley 3 eing journaled at the outer end of a rod or bar 4 which is supported from a bracket 5 and the pulley 2 being carried by a shaft 6 held in suitable bearings 7 ofthe frame work. The Shaft 6 carries also fixed thereto a worm wheel 8 meshin with the worm 9 on the shaft 10 journa ed at 11, 12 in the main framework, this shaft being driven through a clutch 13 from a stub shaft 14 with which may be connected, in any suitable manner, any desired form of flexible shafting. The clutch 13 has a cone ortion 15 thereon engaging the cup shape ortion 16 fixed to the shaft 10. On this shag is also fixed a worm 17 engaging a worm wheel 18 on the shaft v19 journaled in bearings 20, said shaft carrying thereon a brush 21, the bristles of which are arranged to work in proximity to the surface of the belt 1. This belt is provided with teeth 22 similar to card clothingandadapted to 'engage the cotton and-remove the same from the lent. The Ibracket or rod 4 together wit the belt 1 are inclosed within an extension casing 23, this lextension casing reaching out .from Athe-main 'casing 24 su ported on the main frame work of the evice. Thismainfframe work is designed to be carried inthe hand of the'attendant, for which purpose it is provided with .a grip 25 like that of a revolver, and pivoted to this grip is a finger iece 26 in convenient position to e grasped y the'finger like-the trigger of a revolver, the said finger piece being connected by a rod 27 with a lever 28 ivoted-to a bracket 29 extending from the earin 30 in which the stub shaft14 is j ournaled. he clutch member 13 is grooved circumferentially and receives a forked portion of the lever 28. vThe end of the. shaft 10 issocketed and in this socket a spring 31 is located bearing against the face of the clutch member 15,

n the operation of the invention the o era- `tor, by grasping the hand-hold 25 can irect the instrument in any way among the plants to .engage the points of the belt y.with the cotton. At this time the belt isat rest, and by simply operating the finger piece or trigger -26 the )belt will be ,set in motion through the joperation of the described connections owing to-throwing-the clutch` members 15, 16 into ldriving contact. It will be noticed that-both the belt and the brush are driven from the same shaftl and 'forthis purpose in order to give these parts a proper direction of movement the worms 9 and 17 are of reverse order in respect to each other. The belt will be driven so long as the trigger or finger iece 26 is pressed, but immediately this is re eased the spring 31 will throw out the clutch members and stop the transmission of power from the stub shaft 14 to the belt and clearer wheel 21, and it will thus be clear that the picking ofthe cotton, while.

done by power, will be practically as much under the individual control of the operator as in hand picking. He can stop and start the belt at any moment and the serious obj ection heretofore existing to mechanical picking devices may be avoided, namely: the mingling with the picked cotton of leaves, twigs, and other foreign matter, for it will be noticed that the operator need not start the machine in operation until he has applied it to the desired point on the plant and directly in contact with the cotton. The function of also of the crossbrace 4X, Fig. 3. The tub-1 are slipped to adjust the belt by the nut and picker and in4 order to prevent this I provide suiiicient draft toV carry the cotton away dinally ofthe points 2 2. I mayprovideany suitable means at 32 for adjustinl the bar 4l yto et the desired tension on the elt 1.

t will be observed thatvthe casin 23 and the main casing 24 completely inc ose thel brush and belt, and I provide a further eX- l0 tension of this easing'. at 24 which forms a. conduit 24X below the brush or` clearer which ma be connected in any suitable manner Witlvi asuction pipe through which the cotton which is cleared from the belt by the cleare\ device will be drawn into any suitable rehebar orrod 4 is formed oftubing in two pieces and this tubular construction ,1s `true ing 4 fits over rounded ends or rejections on the main frame and these tu ular portions `lock evice 32. The belt can be adjusted Without taking of'the casing 23. An opening is rovidedin the casing 23, .through Which'tie nut 32 may be reached. vThe casin s 23 and 24 inclose the brush and belt and a the moving parts of the device, namely, the shaft 10, worm wheels -8 and 18, and clutch 13.

l- While I use air to drive )the cotton through 4the conduit I do not use suction to pick. or in any wa ldisturb the cotton from the plant, nor do Irdepend upon it to free the brush 21. There must be no sction'at the end of the an opening or openings at 33 through the case 24 to admitsuicient air so as to prevent all suction at the picker end. I may employ a jet or 'ets of air lntroduced into the conduit 24X,sai jetspointing backward and causing lthe action of the vfrom the brush and belt. These jets are possible. The yair enterin Ithrou h'the holev or'the jets in the' nei hbor ood o the opening 33 willhelp to c ear the brush, but the' the revo ution of the brush.`-

gagingand dislodging the cotton fromfthe pneumatic means applying its power at'. the

rear end of the belt or at a point removed v from the front end where the cotton is dislodgedso that said end will be relievedfrom pneumatic means, substantially as describe Wheel for carrying the cotton away thereplant, va casing inclosmg thesaid belt, and' 2. In combination in a cottonl picking ap-r4 from While relieving the front end ofthe belt from air (pressure'or suction, substantially as descrlbel 3. `In combinationacasin ,ashaft mount l ed therein, a belt, with u eys supporting the same, mounted in sai casing, means for driving the belt from the shaft, a clutchcon``l trolling the said shaft, a hand grip extending front of said hand rip" and a rod extending rearwardl from rle said trigger to l the clutch, su stantially as described.A z

l. Inl testimony whereof, I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ROBERT S. WHEELER. Witnessesr l JOHN J. OoRsoN, j HENRY F. CoRsoN.

downwardly from the casing, a trlgger atthe j 

